Marshall University redshirt freshman DeAndre Kane has been named the 2011 Conference USA Freshman of the Year in an announcement by the league Tuesday afternoon.
Kane becomes the second-consecutive Marshall player to receive the honor. Last season, Hassan Whiteside was the recipient of the award.
“This is a great honor, I am very proud to receive this award, but we are here to win games and hopefully a championship,” Kane said. “I owe all of the credit for this to my teammates, Coach Herrion and the coaching staff.”
The third team all-conference selection is joined on the all-freshman team by Memphis duo Will Barton and Tarik Black, Southern Miss guard D.J. Newbill and Tulsa guard Jordan Clarkson of Tulane.
Kane earned four Conference USA Player of the Week honors this season and not only ranks among the Top 10 in C-USA for scoring, he was one of the top five freshman scorers nationally. He is also among the C-USA Top 10 for assists and Top 20 for rebounding. Barton was the only other freshman member of the all-conference teams, also earning a spot on the third team.
The redshirt freshman has started every game this season for Marshall and scored his career high of 25 points on two occasions, including the road game at Louisville. On Monday, Kane was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team.
Kane and the Thundering Herd will begin their quest for a Conference USA Championship on Wednesday when they take on Houston at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso.